In the reading from Genesis on the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we hear Abraham pleading with God, hoping that God’s mercy and compassion will be stronger than the need to punish. The actions and words of Abraham have caused me to reflect about the current status of my own life and of our Church and society. Do we still have the willingness to plead for one another, even if we notice that the other is a sinner or someone who disagrees with us? Do we have a passion of love as our first motivation for standing with others, even if we don’t have a lot in common?

The Gospel from the 11th chapter of Luke asks some rhetorical questions that might not be as easy to answer as they once were. The questions assume a certain kind heartedness toward others, which seems to be in peril these days. Can we assume that our natural instinct is to help those in need? Or would we rather test their worthiness or our own safety before we respond to their need?

When I ask those questions of myself, I have to examine my excuses for not immediately responding out of love. Having someone knock on the door in the middle of the night can be quite jarring. It also is an invasion of our private space and time. It also calls us to sacrifice something very dear to most of us: our rest. But even if someone crosses my path during the daylight, I still have a series of excuses that come easily to my mind and heart. What are the excuses that keep you from that first impulse of love? Is there a sense of tiredness within your heart when you hear of the needs around us? Do you become overwhelmed by the big picture and fail to see the difference you can make through your own life? Has it been a while since you have done an inventory of your life and remembered how good and gracious God has been to you? Do you tend toward cynicism more than gratitude? Have you allowed yourself to be afraid of others rather than be brother or sister to them? Do you only have “five loaves and two fish” and believe that it can’t make a difference?

Would you be willing to practice being more loving in your first response? I recently read a book about St. Francis, and the author said that St. Francis was able to see others as a “glimmering icon” of the living God. Imagine what a difference it would make if we took on the eyes and the heart of Jesus and saw in each other the living presence of God. Most of us would be struck by awe and wonder at each person we meet. We would feel honored and privileged to be in their presence, rather than burdened or inconvenienced.

We’ve all heard the phrase “what you do for the least of these you do for me.” But is that phrase a truth that we live by, or just a great saying that comes from the Scriptures that has no effect on how we live? Our faith tradition offers us some great tools to move to greater love and compassion for others. One of those steps is to acknowledge the fact that we are sinners in need of God’s mercy, the same as every human being on the face of the earth. Others might choose sins different than our own, but we are all sinners in need of God’s grace. A daily recollection of the blessings that we receive in life can lead to a deeper gratitude, and a deeper gratitude leads to a more sacrificial and generous life. Remembering the times that others have forgiven us, even when we were not making the best of choices, can remind us of what a great gift that is. Maybe it would move us to offer that gift to others as well. Are you willing to stand with all of your brothers and sisters or just those with whom you agree?

Father Wester is pastor of All Saints Parish in St. Peters.